The summer transfer window doesn’t fling open until July 1 but the Spirit are getting started early. Today the team announced that they have signed Juventus forward Sofia Cantore to a three-year contract, with an option in 2028. Cantore will be eligible to join the Spirit on July 1, and will be the first Italian player in NWSL history.

The 25-year-old began her club career a decade ago with Fiammamonza before moving to Juventus in 2017. She spent 2019-2022 on loan before returning to Juventus. According to FBref, she has 42 goals and 21 assists in 121 Serie A appearances (90 starts). Last season was her best season in the league, helping Juventus win the league by scoring 11 goals and dishing 6 assists in league play.

Cantore is a versatile attacking player who spent time at multiple positions over the last three seasons with Juventus. She’s been a left and right winger, attacking midfielder, lone striker, and part of a two-player strike partnership. She’s also played in back three and traditional back four systems. Over the past three season she has started as a central forward twelve times, and didn’t manage to register a goal or assist in only two of those starts, according to FBref.

Earlier this month Sofia was called into Italy’s 35-player training camp ahead of this summer’s European Championships (EUROS). The tournament squad is expected to be announced June 25. If Cantore is on it, Spirit fans will get a chance to see what she can do in international competition before she heads to Washington, DC.

It’s unclear the role she’ll play with the Spirit, but she seems to have a varied enough skillset to make it interesting. The lack of depth at striker could be an obvious place for her to slot into. Ouleye Sarr’s contract is up at the end of the season and there’s still no timeline on when, or even if, she can return from her back injury. Ashley Hatch is currently dealing with a back injury, and when Hatch is healthy Gift Monday played as a left forward.

I’m not sure why Juventus is dropping exclusive highlight reels on Facebook but they released a video called ‘Top 10 Goals of 2024 🔥⚽ | Sofia Cantore | 2024 has been UNFORGETTABLE for Sofia Cantore‘, and I have some notes for them on this naming structure as well. Anyway, you can see a decent variety of goals and also her versatility, primarily drifting to the left to collect the ball then cut inside to shoot with her dominant right foot.

Welcome to the Spirit, Sofia!

Photo of Sofia Cantore courtesy of Washington Spirit.